System and method for creating background blur in camera panning or motion

Abstract

Systems, imaging devices and methods for creating background blur in camera panning or motion. Using an imaging device with an image sensor, a method may comprise selecting an object to be tracked in a scene, recording an image or an image stream, and aligning the selected object optically and/or digitally to a same position on the image sensor while the selected object moves relative to the imaging device or relative to the scene, thereby creating a blurred image background and/or foreground relative to the selected object and a sense of panning or motion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 providing an imaging device comprising a main camera, the main camera including a lens and an image sensor;   selecting an object to be tracked in a scene; and   while recording a plurality of individual images by the ng device, moving the lens for optically aligning the selected object to a same given position on the image sensor while the selected object moves relative to the imaging device or relative to the scene, and averaging image data from the plurality of individual images, thereby creating a blurred image background and/or foreground relative to the selected object.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the imaging device further comprises a second camera, wherein the aligning is performed with the main camera, and wherein at least one parameter needed for the aligning is calculated using information provided by the second camera. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the image sensor includes a first plurality of pixels that provide information for calculating at least one parameter needed for the aligning, and a second plurality of pixels used for recording an image or an image stream. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the aligning includes performing an inference for a future position of the selected object. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selecting an object to be tracked in a scene is performed by using image data of the main camera. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selecting an object to be tracked in a scene is performed by a user. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selecting an object to be tracked in a scene is performed automatically. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the selecting an object to be tracked in a scene is performed by using image data of the second camera. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the aligning includes performing an inference for a future position of the selected object. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one parameter needed for the aligning is selected from the group consisting of a shift parameter, a scale parameter and a rotation parameter. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the recording includes recording a plurality of frames and wherein the aligning includes aligning the selected object optically to a similar position on the image sensor and further aligning the selected object digitally to the same given position on the image sensor. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the recording includes recording a plurality of frames and wherein the aligning includes aligning the selected object optically to discrete pixels on the image sensor and further aligning the selected object digitally to the same given position on the image sensor. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the recorded image stream includes a plurality of individual images and wherein the method further comprises generating artificial image data using individual image data. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising playing the recorded image stream with a frame per second (fps) rate different than a fps rate used for recording the image stream. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the recorded image stream is divided into two or more sequences and wherein the method further comprises playing each sequence with a different frame per second rate. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising dividing the recorded image stream into two or more sequences that exhibit a different degree of blurring. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the artificial image data is used to increase uniformity in image blurring. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the object is a star. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the object is a person. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the imaging device is a smartphone.